Electroplating apparatus.



M. REID. ELEGTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1908.

Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

7 WITH E8858:

uv VENT By M fiviw mama M. REID. ELEGTROPLATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEG.10, 190a.

Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR W %Maiw/ WWW/ M. REID. ELEGTROPLATING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED 11mm, 1908.

Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHBETB-SHBET 3.

ATTORNEY defined as consistin ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MaRoELLUS REID, F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ELEGTROPLATING APPARATUS.

This invention relates to electro-plating apparatus, and more particularly toan apparatus of this kind wherein the articles to be plated are subjected to a tumbling action during the plating operation.

The invention has for its general objects to improve the construction and operation of. apparatus of this character; to provide an apparatus wherein the clcctro-plating operation may proceed with great rapidity and economy; to improve and simplify the construct-ion of apparatus of this kind While lessening the cost of production of the same.

Generally speaking, the invention may be of the combinations of elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed and illustrated, in one embodiment, in the drawings forming part hereof, where- 1n Figure 1 represents an elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, some of the parts being broken away for clearncss of illustration; Fig. 2 represents an elevation at right angles to Fig. 1, the tank and basket and a portion of the worm wheel being broken away, the tank being shown in its extreme inclined posit-ion; Fig. 3 represents an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the tank; Fig. 4 represents a sectional detail and Fig. 5 a view partly in section and partly in elevation, of the bottom of the basket which forms part of my apparatus; and Figs. (3

1 and 7 represent vlews, similar to Figs. 4

and 5 respectively, of the side of the basket. The apparatus comprises generally a tank 1, for the reception of the material to be plated, a supporting frame 2 therefor, means whereby the tank may be adjusted and rotated, and connections whereby electric current may be supplied through said tank.

The complete tank consists of an outer casing or receptacle having a removable cover and having an inner receptacle or basket 3, into which the articles to be platedare inserted, the basket being removably fitted within the outer casing or receptacle.

Specification of Letters Patent;

The outer receptacle or casing consists of a metallic body having applied to the inner surface thereof a lining which is of material that is a non-conductor of electricity and will not be decomposed by the liquids em-- ployed in the apparatus. This lining, designated at 4, is preferably of hard rubber. The top of the receptacle is provided with a flange 5 having recesses 6 in the outer periphery thereof, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The flange 5 projects inwardly a sufiicient distance to form an abutment 7 for the top of hard rubber lining 4, and is inclined outwardly and upwardly from the inner edge, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The bottom 8 of the tank is inclined downwardly toward the central portion thereof and is there provided with an upwardly projecting hub 9 having a central aperture for the reception of a shaft 10 by means of which the receptacle may be supported while being adjusted and rotated. The hub 9 is provided with an annular seat 11 for the reception of the bevel gear 12 by means of which the tank may berotated through a bevel pinion 13, mounted on the drive shaft 14. The shaft 10 is journaled in an elongated bearing 15, said bearing forming the central portion of'a triangular casting, said casting being provided with horizontal sleeves 16 and 17 mounted respectively on the shafts 14 and 1.8. By means of this construction, the said casting and the tank carried thereby may be given any desired inclination. The sleeve 17 is sesured to the shaft 18, as by means of the pins 19, while the sleeve 16 may be rotatably mounted upon the shaft 14 through the interposition of a sleeve 20 to which the sleeve 16 may be secured, as by means of a pin 21.

The hard rubber lining 4 is fitted or molded to the interior of the tank 1 and surrounds the hub 9, extending to the upper surface of said hub and being flush therewith. The upper surface of the hub is covered with a cap 22 of insulating material which extends across the top of the hning and forms a tight joint therewith.

The basket 3 is made of insulating material,pr'eferably vulcanized rubber. The bottom of the basketis made of similar material and is detachably supported in the body of the basket by means of an inwardly projecting fiange or ring 23 on which the I Patented June 4, 1912. Application filed December 10, 1908. Serial No. 466,753.

outer edge of the .bottom 24 rests, being held bottom of the basket, and to permit the cir-,

culation of the electrolyte, the basket bottom is provided with perforations 28 extending therethrough between the meshes of the gauze. The strengthening members of the basket body .and bottom are galvanized, to prevent deterioration by the ingredients of the, hard rubber in which they are embedded.

The cathode terininal which is carried by the basket comprises not onl the ring 25 at the bottom of the basket, but two other rings 29 and 30, extending around the inside of the basket and connected together and with the ring 25 by means of upright plates 31. A spider consisting of a suitable number of arms 32 and a central hub 33 is connected to the upper portion of the basket by means of bolts 34, said bolts extending through the lower ends of the spider arms and through the upper ends of the cathode plates 31. The hub 33 carries one of the terminals by means of which current is supplied through the electrolyte. This terminal comprises a metallic pin 35 extending throuh the hub and having its lower end slitte to prevent accidental withdrawal. This "pin is provided with a bearing flange 36 engaging the hub and projects upwardly into a sleeve 37 of non-conducting material,

the upperend of which sleeve. receives .the

end 38 of the conductor 39. This end 38 is fitted into a plug 38" which is provided with an extension 38", fitting into a recess in the top of the pin 35 and secured to said pin b non-conducting material.

means of a smaller pin 35*. The sleeve 3 forms a guide, by means of which the con-- ductor may be plugged into the top of the in 35. p The bottom 24 of the basket projects upwardly into the body thereof and is conical in shape; forming with zthe bottom of the tank an enlarged chamber for the reception of the anode. The shaft 10 is provided with a central bore for the reception of the rod 40, by means of which current-issupsaid rod being insulated means of a sleeve 41 of At its lower end the shaft 10 is threaded, and is there proplied'to the anode, from the shaft by vided with a nut 42. The upper end of rod 40 projects through the cap 22 and is provided with a screw thread by means of which it is threaded into a stud 43 of conducting material. This stud provides a support for the anode plates 44, each of said plates being generally in the shape of a cira removable cover 51.

cular disk provided with a central aperture of a size permittingit to fit closely around the stud. As will appear more particularly from Fig. 3, the anode plates are of increasing size from the top plate to the bottom plate, forming in effect a conical anode corresponding in outline to the out-lineof the bottom 24 of the basket 3. It will be observed that each plate flares downwardly from the central portion thereof, giving a larger area than if its plane were at right angles to the stud 43. The projection'of the hub 9 above the bottom of the tank and the shape of the tank bottom accommodate this shape .of the anode plates. The upper end of stud 43 is threaded and is provided with a nut 45 having a cover or cap 46 of hard rubber or similar non-conducting material, which is adapted to abut against the top of the uppermost anode plate and form therewith a tight joint. The central portion of the anode plates are thickened, as shown at 44, and these thickened portions form in effect hubs which bear against each other and which, together with the cover 46, of nut 45-,prevent the access of the electrolyte to the stud 43. The material of which the anode plates are composed will depend 1 upon the kind of plating that is to be performed by the apparatus, nickel, copper and zinc being frequently used for this purpose.

At its lower end, the rod 40 has mounted thereon a sleeve 47 which is in electrical contact with said rod and which sleeve has applied thereto the terminal 48 by means of which current from the conductor 49 is supplied to the rod 40 and thence to the anode. A washer 50 of non-conducting material in-. .ter osed between the sleeve 47 and the lower on of shaft 10 prevents the current from being short-circuited through the frame or other parts of the apparatus and cause it to flow tothe anode. A nut 47 retains. the sleeve 47 on the rod 40.

With the tank herein described, I employ This cover is pro.- vided with a flange 52 projecting beyond the flange 5 of the tank and carrying clamping means whereby the cover may be secured to the tank. Within its outer periphery, the cover is provided wi h a downwardly inclined portion'53 having in its inner or under face a recess for the reception of a soft rubber gasket 54 which bears against the inclined surface 7 of flange 5' inner or under surface of the cover is protected from the-action of the electrolyte by means of a rubber lining 55. The central portion of the'cover is left open, thereby enabling the operator .toinspect the electroplating operation from time to time. This central aperture is of such size as to permit the tank to be tilted to a nearly horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2 without spilling and forms therewith a tight joint. The

the contents thereof. This gives great caand is also pinned thereto, as

.erably carried by a pacity to the inclined electroplating tank, both as to solution and as to the articles that may be treated therein.

To permit the cover to be conveniently applied to and removed from the tank, I provide clamps, each having a bolt 56extending upwardly through apertures in the cover flange 52. The upper ends of these bolts are threaded and each isprovided with a nut 57 threaded thereonto. The head of the bolt fits between downwardly projecting flanges 58 on a clamping member 59 mounted thereon. This clamping member is provided with an upwardly extending projection 60 adapted to extend beneath a ledge 61 at the periphery of the cover flange 52 and is provided with a projection 62 adapted to engage beneath the flange 5. The flange 5, as previously stated, is provided with peripheral recesses 6. These recesses enable the cover, with the clamps thereon, to be applied to the top of the tank. By slightly rotating the cover, the inwardly proj ecting portions 62 of the clamping members are brought beneath the tank flange. Then, by turning the nuts 57 in the appropriate direction, the cover will be firmly clamped to the tank, compressing the gasket 54 and forming a liquid tight joint for the tank. \Vhen it is desired to remove the cover, it is only necessary to slack up on the nuts 57 and rotate the cover a slight distance to bring the clamps beneath the recesses, whereupon the cover may be lifted ofl.

The tank is mounted within its frame in substantially the same manner as shown in my application No. 301,772 filed February 19th 1906. The frame comprises a casting having a central dished circular base 63, said base having projecting upwardly from opposite sides thereof brackets or side frames 64. These brackets are provided with sleeves 65, 65, respectively, one of said sleeves being adapted to receive the drive shaft 14 and the other the shaft 18. The sleeve 20 which surrounds the inner portion ,of shaft 14, is journaled in sleeve 65, and shaft 18 is ournaled in its sleeve 65*. A worm wheel 66 is keyed to the outer end of the shaft 18 shown at 67.

For the purpose of operating the worm wheel, a worm gear 68 is supported by brackets 69 and 70, projecting from one of the side frames 64, said brackets being prefplate 71 secured to said frame. The bracket is extended to form a long sleeve and has its upper and outer end flared outwardly, as shown at 72. The hand wheel 73 is provided with a hub 74 which is keyed to the upper end of the worm shaft 75 and is provided with a tapered surface adapted to fit against the inner tapered surface of the outwardly flared portion 72 of the bracket 70. The worm shaft is provided with a reduced threaded extension 7 6 to which there is fitted a smallclamp 77, a washer 78 being interposed between the hub ofsaid clamp and the hub 74 of the hand wheel. This construction provides an efficient clamp for preventing the accidental or unintentional rotation of the worm shaft. When the operator has adjusted the tank to the proper angle of inclination by turning the hand wheel 77 in the appropriate direction, the hub 74 0f the large wheel 73 will be locked against rotation by its frictional engagement with the upper end of bracket 70.

The shaft 14 is provided with a pulley 79 which is loosely mounted on the shaft near one end thereof. The adjacent end of shaft 14 is provided with a sleeve 80 which is rigidly secured thereto. The inner end of this sleeve is in substantial contact with the outer end of the pulley hub 81. The pulley hub is provided at its outer end with a pair of short slots 82, which may be locateddiametrically opposite each other, as shown in Fig. 1. The outer end of the shaft 14 is provided with a key-way 83, in whichthere is mounted a sliding key 84, having a lug or spline thereon. The inner end of sleeve 80 is provided with a recess 86 of a depth substantially equal to the length of the spline 85. From this description, it will be apparent that, by withdrawing the key 84 to bring the lug or spline 85 entirely within the recess 86, the driving connection between the pulley 79 and the shaft 14 will be broken and that, by operating said key to bring its lug or spline into either of the opposed recesses 82, a driving connection will be effected between the pulley 79 and the driving shaft 14. 1 For convenience of operation, the key may be provided with a suitable handle 87.

In operation, the articles to be plated and the electrolyte are introduced into the tank, the tank is adjusted to the desired angle of inclination, the circuit is closed, and power is applied to the pulley'79. The movement of this pulley is transmitted by shaft 14 and gear l2 to the hub 9 of the tank, rotating the tank and subjecting articles therein to a tumbling operation simultaneously with the flow of the current through the electrolyte. When the tumbling and plating operations have proceeded to the desired extent. the power and the current are shut off. The

cover and basket ZUIG, then removed. the

plated articles are emptied. A new charge of materials may then be introduced into the basket'and the operation resumed.

Among theadvantages which flow from the construction of my anode may be noted the fact that as the top plates of the anode are consumed, a new plate may be applied to the'bottom of thecstud 43, shoving the partly consumed plates up toward the top of the stud and the conical bottom. Practically the entire weightof the anode plates will thus be consumed. Furthermore, the reduction in size of the anodes from the bottom to the top, producing in efiect a conical anode, allows the tilting of the tank to substantially the position shown in Fig. 2, while maintaining the anodes completely submerged. This insures high efficiency and large capacity for the apparatus.

The employment of the insulating lining for the tank enables me to usemetal for the tank, rendering the same bothlight and durable and avoiding the necessity for constructing the tank body and bottom of separate pieces of material. The construction and arrangement of the cathode terminal with reference to the anode enables the electroplating operation to proceed radially from the anode to the-cathode terminal and insures high efficiency in operation.

The construction of electroplating apparatus herein described is particularly strong, efficient and economical in operation. The shape of the bottom of the basket cooperates with the anode and the shape of the tank bottom to combine large capacity of basket with high efficiency and rapidity of plating.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an electro-plating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a basket in said tank, a centrally arranged anode projecting into the lower portion of said basket, and a cathode terminal carried by said basket, said terminal comprising aring extending around the side of the basket at the lower end thereof.

2. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a. basket in said tank, an anode projecting into the lower portion of said basket, and a cathode terminal consisting of a plurality of spaced metallic rings extending around the side of the basket with one or more metallic members connecting said rings. 7

8. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a basket in said tank,

an anode projecting into the lower portion of said basket, one or more rings extending around the basket and carried thereby, a plurality of vertically plates secured to said ring or rings, and a terminal support electrically connected to said strips or plates.

4. In an electroplating apparatus, the

combination of a tank, a basket in said tank,

an anode projecting into the lower portion of said basket, a cathode terminal consisting of a plurality of spaced rings extending around the basket and a plurality of vertically extending strips or plates secured to said rings, and a spider in said basket having its arms secured to said strips or plates and provided with a hub for the reception of an electric terminaL project-ing upwardly from the. tank extending strips or 5. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a basket having a perforated bottom, a centrally arranged anode projecting into the lower portion of the basket, a cathode terminal carried by said basket and consisting of a plurality of rings extending around said basket and metal strips-or plates connecting said rings, and a spider secured to the upper ends of said strips or plates and provided with a hub or bearing for an electric terminal.

6. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a basket in said tank having a conical bottom, a cathode terminal carried by said basket, and a conical anode beneath the conical bottom of the basket.

7. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a basket in said tank having a perforated conical bottom and a cathode terminal surrounding said bottom, and an anode carried by the tank and projecting upwardly beneath the conical bottom of the basket.

8. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a basket in said tank having an upwardly projecting bottom; a cathode terminal carried by said basket and surrounding said bottom, and an anodecarried'by the tank and projecting upwardly into said bottom, said anode comprising a plurality of plates decreasing in diameter from the bottom to the top.

9. In. an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a basket in said tank having an upwardly projecting bottom, a conical anode carried by the tank and pro-- jecting upwardly beneath the bottom of the basket, means for rotating said tank, and means for adjusting said tank in a vertical plane. v

10. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a basket in said tank having an upwardly projecting bottom, an

anode carried by the tank and projecting upwardly beneath said bottom, and means for rotating said tank. v

l1. A basket for electroplating apparatus comprisinga body portion and a bottom portion, the body portion having an mwardly projecting ring at the lower end thereof and the bottom portion resting on said ring, and a cathode terminal carried by the basket, said cathode terminal comprising a ring extending around the basket and clamping the bottom of the basket between itself and the inwardly projecting ring.

12. An anode for electroplating apparatus comprising a plurality of connected line.

13. An anode for electroplating apparatus comprising a stud and a plurality of downwardly flaring plates mounted thereon,

plates arranged to present a conical out'- said plates diminishing in size from the bottom to the top of the stud.

v14. An anode for electroplating apparatus comprising a stud of conducting. ma terial, a series of anode plates mounted thereon, said plates increasing in diameter from one end of said stud-toward the other,

and means for securing said plates to said stud.

15. An anode for electroplating apparatus comprising a series of anode plates of progressively varying diameter from end to end of the anode.

16. An anode for electroplating apparatus comprising a stud of conducting material, a plurality of anode plates on said stud, said plates diminishing in diameter from one end of the stud to the other, said plates having their central portions or hubs in engagement, and a nut on one end of said stud, said nut being provided with an insulating cover adapted to abut against the adjacent plate on the stud.

17. An anode for electroplating appa ratus comprising a plurality of anode plates of progressively varying diameter and each having a hub of greater thickness than the thickness of the body of the plate, and means for clamping said hubs together.

18. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank having a hub pro-v jecting into the central portion thereof,.a

vstud carried by said hub, and a plurality of anode plates mounted on said stud, each of said plates extending downwardly from the stud and toward the bottom of the tank.

19. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank having an elect-rode, means for rotating said tank, a basket within said tank, said basket being provided with another electrode, a spider for said basket provided with a hub, and electrically connected with the basket elect-rode, and an electric terminal extending through said hub and sleeved therein.

20. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank having an electrode, means for rotating said tank, a basket within said tank, said basket being provided with another elect-rode, a spider con nected with the basket electrode and provided with a hub, and an electric terminal provided with a flange resting on said hub, said terminal having a socket therein for the reception of the electric conductor.

21. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank having an electrode, means for rotating said tank, a basket within said tank, said basket being provided with another electrode, a spider connected with the basket electrode and provided with a hub, an electric terminal provided with a flange resting on said hub, and having a socket, a non-conducting sleeve surrounding said terminal, and an electric conductor having a plug inserted in said sleeve and provided with a projection entering said socket.

522. In an electroplating apparatus, the

combination of a tank, means for rotating the same, a shaft for ad usting the inclination of said tank, a worm wheel on said shaft, a worm shaft, a gear thereon meshing with the worm wheel, brackets supporting said worm shaft, one of said brackets being provided with a sleeve having an outwardly flared end, a hand wheel keyed on said shaft and provided with an inclined surface adapted to engage the flaring end of the bracket sleeve, and means for forcing said hub into engagement with the flared end of the sleeve.

23. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, means for rotating the same, a shaft for adjusting the inclination of said tank, a worm wheel on said shaft, a worm shaft having thereon a worm gear for said wheel, and means for clamping the worm shaft against rotation, said means comprising an operating device for the worm shaft longitudinally adjustable thereon and having an inclined hub, a sleeve surrounding the worm shaft provided with an inclined surface, and means for frictionally engaging said hub with the inclined surface of said hub.

24. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, means for rotating the same, a shaft for adjusting the inclination of said tank, a gear on said shaft, a shaft having thereon a gear'for the latter gear, and means for clamping the latter shaft against rotation, said means comprising an operating device for the latter shaft longitudinally adjustable thereon and having an inclined surface, a sleeve surrounding -the latter shaft provided with a complementary inclined surface, and means for frictionally engaging said surfaces.

25. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a tank, means for rotating the same, a shaftfor adjusting the inclination of said tank, a worm wheelon said shaft, a worm shaft having thereon a worm gear, a hand wheel on said worm shaft, means for clamping the worm shaft against rotation, said means comprising a sleeve surrounding the worm shaft and having an outwardly flaring end, a tapered hub on the hand wheel slidingly keyed to the worm shaft, said worm shaft being provided with a threaded end projecting through said hub, a washer on the threaded end of said shaft, and a clamping device threaded on said end and adapted to force said washer against the hub of the hand wheel.

26. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of an exterior tank, an open- Work receptacle or basket in said tank, a centrally arranged electrode projecting into the lower portion of the basket, a second electrode consisting of a metal strip formed into a spiral and secured to the inner wall of said basket, a metallic bail for said basket, and electric connections between said bail and the electrode carried by the basket, substantially as specified.

27. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a basket having a body portion provided near its lower end with an inwardly projecting ring and an upwardly projecting perforated bottom portion resting on said ring, and an anode projecting upwardly into the perforated bottom portion, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARCELLUS REID.

Witnesses:

BRENNAN B. WEST, J. B. HULL. 

